Ask Capt. Oliveira: How to Deal with Pet Owners

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

“There are irresponsible dog owners everywhere. Even if you put up all kinds of signs (which ruins the curb appeal), owners will still let their dogs poop on your lawn and not pick up. What else can we do other than confronting them (some are pretty aggressive)?” -B.G.

Capt. Steve Oliveira

Dear Reader,

I understand your frustration. I have the same issue in my own neighborhood. City Code 9.44.220 D. states that no owner of any animal, wild or domestic, except the domestic cat, shall permit such animal to defecate upon public property, or upon the private property of another, unless the owner immediately removes the feces and properly disposes of the feces by placing it in a closed or sealed container and depositing it in a trash receptacle. This subsection shall not apply to guide dogs, service dogs or signal dogs as defined in Section 54.1 of the California Civil Code. Animal Care Services can respond and issue the offender an administrative citation, as long the person that witnessed the incident is willing to sign a citizen’s arrest and is willing to testify at an administrative hearing. To contact Animal Care Services, you can call 311 or 916-808-5011.

Another option is to work with your Home Owners’ Association (HOA) if you have one. I have seen some neighborhood HOA’s install dog poop bag dispensers on stop signs to make it more convenient for those who might pick up after their dogs if they had a bag with them. Many HOA Covenants, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&Rs) state that residents must clean up after any mishap performed by their pets. The HOA may be able to send a warning letter or fine a repeat offender if you witness the incident or better yet, capture it on your home surveillance video.

—Capt. Oliveira

Capt. Steve Oliveira oversees the Sacramento Police Dept.’s north-area command, which includes Natomas. To submit your questions to Capt. Oliveira, send an email to [email protected] with “Ask Capt. Oliveira” in the subject line.